De Facto Long-term Opioid Therapy for Noncancer Pain

OBJECTIVESThis paper describes characteristics of opioid use episodes for noncancer pain and defines thresholds for de facto long-term opioid therapy. METHODSCONSORT (CONsortium to Study Opioid Risks and Trends) includes adult members of 2 health plans serving over 1% of the US population. Opioid use episodes beginning in the years 1997 to 2005 were classified as acute, episodic, long-term/lower dose, or long-term/higher dose. RESULTSOn the basis of evaluation of the likelihood of opioid use continuing, long-term opioid therapy was defined by episodes lasting longer than 90 days with 10+ opioid prescriptions or 120+ days supply of opioids dispensed. Long-term/higher dose episodes (